I was browsing Amazon and saw this as the Gold Box deal of the day.
I've been looking for some time for a nice pair of portable speakers, but all the technobabble involved always confused me. I just want something loudish, with good crisp sound with a good range. I'd like to be able to listen to music outside on a nice day, or set it up while I'm washing dishes, or on a picnic table whilst camping. I don't need something to supply music for a loud party. I'd like something that could be plugged in or run on batteries. From the website's description, this would fit the bill. I wanted something small too, and I couldn't really tell the relative size until I saw one up against a PSP, so they're fairly small (which makes me wonder about the sound).
Does anyone have one of these? Any suggestions or recommendations? I'd like to get it while it's cheap, but these days, I'm hesitant to make purchases on something like this without at least asking Hatrack for opinions and advice.
Thanks.
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
In my experience, music tends to sound tinny and thin on battery powered speakers.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Would it sound better if it were the same speakers but you plugged them in? I want to be able to plug them in too, but, where I'd want to take them, like in camping trips or to the park, I won't always have access to a plug so they'll need to be able to run on batteries.
Obviously, since they are portable speakers, the portability is as important as any other factor, and thus the ability to not be plugged in is vital.
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
Plugging them in helps some. But a contributing factor is that portable speakers can't be very large, which limits sound quality. I don't necessarily advise against getting them, just that you should be aware about limitations. Also note that my experience here is several years old, and with other brands than JBL. The technology could have improved some.
I've found a car often makes a great portable stereo, so long as it has a decent battery.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
Speaker size isn't everything. They're doing good things in smaller speakers these days as well.
I wish there seemed to be more information about battery usage with these speakers; it would be my one big consideration. One reviewer comments on them using AAA batteries, but not how many or how much use they got out of 'em.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Amazon and their website says 24 non-stop hours. I'd get a set of rechargeables and just recharge them whenever they ran out, maybe with some backups. That doesn't bother me as much.
But yeah, I'm curious too.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
Well I went ahead and ordered them, fearing they'd run out, and I checked dozens of reviews, both professional and anecdotal, and the majority were all great. I guess I'll test it for myself and return it if I don't like it. Between this and the Dave Matthews tickets I just bought, I think I've splurged enough for one month, and March just started.
Still, if anyone has any words on this particular product, I'd like to hear them.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Let me know what you think when you get them - I've been looking for portable speakers for my van as an alternative to actually diagnosing and fixing whatever electrical problem is making the sound system freak out.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
W o W!
They're amazing. I'd give them four out of five stars. The sound quality is sharp, they are LOUD as all heck, much more so than I was expecting from the reviews. You should be able to hear them very well outside, and in a regular room, they'll easily be louder than the speakers you have on your laptop. I have a subwoofer even built into my laptop and I think the sound blew my laptop away. They don't sound metallic or tinny or staticky at all. It looks very, very sharp.
My only complaint? The design itself has a pretty goofy flaw. It slides open and locks into place, and when it opens it reveals two jacks, one for the power cord and one for the link to your mp3 player or what not. You MUST unplug them in order to close it, and you must close it to turn it off. I guess you could cut that little section of plastic off, which I'm considering, but I don't know how it'd look or if that'd ruin the functionality at all. I don't see why they couldn't have moved the jacks to the side so you don't have to slide it shut.
It's not THAT big a deal, it's just annoying enough to lose a star. I don't think they are worth $100, maybe $50, but at $30 I really feel like I got my money's worth.
Posted by Juxtapose (Member # 8837) on :
Hmm, I guess speakers have come a long way in miniaturization. Good to know.